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REVELATION 3:16 (nasb)

16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

I honestly can’t say that I’m surprised. This past week I have seen people who are ashamed of Christ who cowered behind political correctness and ‘tolerance’ (which by the way if you haven’t noticed…is NOT given back). I have seen this mantra repeated over and over to the point of making me sick: God is love. (Period) But as I mentioned in my previous post…He is so much more: He is just, He takes vengeance, He is forgiving, He is merciful, He is all knowing, He is holy and perfect without a single flaw. None of those were mentioned by any of the lukewarm Christians.

I am not surprised or shocked at the way people who don’t claim to be Christian act (they at least have the excuse of not knowing God on a personal level), but CHRISTIANS who claim to know God and His word condoning the homosexual lifestyle is inexcusable….for heaven’s sake at least don’t claim to be Christian, no one is forcing you to bear that name. Perhaps these people are timid and afraid to loose a friend if they express what the Bible says on this subject. Perhaps they think God will compromise on what He said not to do. Perhaps they think they are being loving. But I ask you, if you truly believe in Christ and that the Bible says He is the only way, and that the Bible tells what is right and what is wrong…how in the world do you consider it being loving not to tell a person that because they don’t know Christ they are going to hell? Don’t you want to see that friend in heaven? Are you so selfish that you won’t put your fears aside and lovingly but boldly speak the truth about what the Bible says instead of sugaring things up? That dear on is hate, not love…because for the sake of not offending someone you will not tell that person the truth that could have saved them…what if no one else will put that choice before them and tomorrow they die? How will you be able to have a clear conscience that the person you called friend will eternally suffer because you couldn’t sit down and put before them the choice of forgiveness that is offered by Jesus Christ? That person’s blood will be asked out of your hands…and you dear lukewarm Christian will be spit out of God’s mouth.

I wonder what would have happened if Jesus did not speak out, if He let fear stop Him from going to the cross. You dear Christian know what would have happened…hell would await us all if our ransom for our sins (mistakes, lies, adultery, cheating, hate, stealing, gossiping, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc).

I wonder how you dear lukewarm Christian would feel when you stand before the Savior He will be just as ashamed of you as you are of Him and His word?

Luke 9:26 (NASB)

26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

That dear lukewarm Christian is what will happen.

I am not saying to be hateful, but I am saying not to cower. Standing for the truth is never, ever easy…and most of the time people hate the truth. But the truth is always worth it because it is steady and unchanging.

Here is a quote that I love:

“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”

–Alexander Hamilton

CHOOSE NOW WHOM YOU WILL SERVE:

Joshua 24:15(NASB)

15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

You can’t be both with this world that will one day perish and with God. You really can’t have it both ways. Either you will please one and anger another and visa versa. Who would you rather anger? The world which can judge your body? Or God who can judge your eternal soul.

To those who are not Christian and reading this, please understand that the above portion is not referring to you, it is strictly for those who claim to follow Jesus Christ.

For those who are not Christian and reading this blog I do have a message for you as well if you are willing to read on:

I don’t hate you. If I don’t agree with your lifestyle does not mean that I hate you. For example, you might be perfectly okay with sleeping around before marriage, whereas I am not, I believe in giving that kind of love to one person. But if your lifestyle is like that I do not hate you. The same if you are homosexual. Please understand my conviction and that of my fellow Christians. We believe in a loving, just, holy, perfect God who has the best intentions for all on this planet (therefore the laws He gives are given to protect our bodies from disease and our souls from hell). If I as a Christian that something is not pleasing to God according to the Bible, I do not say it with malice or hate…sure, I DO get fired up…it is how I express myself when I am passionate and I firmly believe something (perhaps you are the same in that perspective), but I don’t say it with malice or hate…I say it with passionate love, with a passionate desire that you come to know Jesus Christ so that you can know how awesome He is and that you would have a heavenly attorney who will when accused by satan of your every mistake and sin, He would be able to erase your sin and pay the ransom for your soul and give you entrance into heaven…not the eternal, painful prison of hell. If I hated you, I wouldn’t bother writing this and I wouldn’t risk my good standing in your eyes. If I hated you, I would keep silent and let you go to hell…because silence is often easier than speaking.

John 3:16(NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 8:9-11 (NASB)

9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said,“I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

What you need to know about following Jesus is this:

–If you come to Him and accept Him into your heart and soul, and ask forgiveness for your sins (your wrongs), He WILL forgive your EVERY sin.

–He will begin to change you and through His word will teach you right from wrong.

–As with the woman caught in adultery (in the above verse mentioned) He plainly told her He does not condemn her…and yet He ALSO told her FROM NOW ON SIN NO MORE. Meaning He was telling her to stop living a lifestyle that is not according to the word of God. (Jesus had saved this woman from being stoned to death for her sin). When you come to Him and ask forgiveness and you accept Him as your Lord and Savior, your RESCUER from satan, HE FORGIVES YOU, you get A BRAND NEW FRESH START IN THE EYES OF HEAVEN (consequences on earth may still remain, however you name is written permanently God’s book of Life)…when you come to Him and ask for forgiveness, like I say he gives it, but just as with the adulterous woman He tells you: FROM NOW ON SIN NO MORE.

–Even after putting your life in His protective hands, you WILL still make mistakes…being a follower of Christ does not mean you are perfect. It means that when you make a mistake you can come to Him and ask forgiveness and He will help you start again. (Please understand that there is no way you can take advantage of God…He knows your heart, if you are sincere or not) Still, you are a new creation through Jesus and when that day of Judgement comes and satan (who DOES remember every mistake and sin) comes before the throne of God to tell Him why you should go to hell, Jesus Christ will stand in front of you and God will declare you pure and clean, because when Jesus stands as your advocate, He wins (He paid your ransom with His blood).

I pray that God will lead you to Him dear reader, I pray that if not on this earth…I shall see you there in heaven (and against contrary belief….God is not a boring God who made a boring heaven, there will be wonders untold that I look forward to discovering along with you!)

In debating what the Bible says and does not say, the old law has been brought up. Jesus made a new covenant with us when He died on the cross. It is the covenant in which sins are forgiven (this does not give us permission to willfully sin because that would be mocking Christs sacrifice and if we do so then we haven’t really believe in the first place).

Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

In this debate of what is wrong and what is right there have been things brought up that are said to be ‘outdated’ such as:
Your adornment must not be merely external– braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; (1 Peter 3:3) Notice that is says Your adornment must not be MERELY external, thus insinuating that yes, you may adorn yourself, but what is inside is what matters.
The Bible also talks about modesty…what is wrong with that? Of a woman having enough self respect not to treat herself as an object by dressing ‘sexy’.
There are other points brought up some from the Old testament (Old Covenant that existed before the new covenant of Jesus Christ)
In any case the point of what was brought stemmed from me saying that we can’t pick and choose what we like and apply only what we like from the Bible. My point still stands. I can’t pick and choose what I like from the Bible and toss the rest out. Will I ever err and do what the Bible says not to do? I’ve never ever claimed not to be a sinner in need of daily grace from my Savior whom I have accepted as the One to pay the ransom for my sins. I am a sinner. I do sin. I break the heart of Jesus everyday, and yet because I have come to the cross and brought my sins to him, he obliterates those sins and forgives them and gives me the strength to get up and try again. My point was about willful disobedience of Christ. For example if I am married, and I know that cheating on my spouse is wrong and I willfully go and cheat on him then I am mocking Christ. Will I be forgiven? If I come to Him with a sincere heart (not thinking I can fool Him) and sincerely want to change my ways, then yes, I am forgiven. In every case where Jesus speaks to a person who was living a life of sin, his words were: Your sins are forgiven, GO AND SIN NO MORE. Thus a change is expected.
That is very logical if you think about it. In the court of law, if I am brought before a judge for stealing, and lets say my defense lawyer is good and clears my name (though I have broken the law), the judge might give a similar warning: You’re free, no punishment for you, however don’t do it again.
Or do we think we can cheat God or fool Him? Do we think we can say in our hearts: I am really attracted to this person even though I’ve made a vow to another, I will give in to my fleshy desire because it will feel great for a moment and then I will come to God and ask forgiveness and He will forgive me. That is willful disobedience. I cannot fool the God who knows my heart, I am only fooling myself and I will still be judged because I have not truly believed–had I believed I wouldn’t spit in His face like that.
Divorce was also brought up.
Matthew 5:31-32 says this:
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

NOTICE THAT JESUS GAVE AN EXCEPTION: EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS

And as statistics have it abuse usually follows unfaithfulness so it is pretty much an all in one exception. In the case of unfaithfulness according to the above verse, that group is permitted to remarry.

Regarding tattoos, again that was part of the Old Covenant before the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is not mentioned in the New Testament other than the Mark of the Beast (the mark of the anti-Christ and so this does not refer to all tattoos it only refers to the specific mark that will be given by the Anti-Christ)

The other portion was referring to witchcraft and fortune telling. Yes the Bible speaks against it, Understand this supernatural power comes from one of two places: God or Satan. Witchcraft represents the power of satan and his falling angels. So when you think your fortune is being told, it is satan speaking lies to you drawing you further, trapping you into a snare, witchcraft comes with a price that satan will always come to collect. This is why God forbids it. Do you want to know the future? Do you want to taste of the supernatural? I would say go to God, He is the authentic one, satan only mimics and copies.

Regarding homosexuality:

Romans 1:24-27 24) Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25) For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.

26) For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27) and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

So according to the Bible homosexuality is wrong. I am not sure how a person can claim to be Christian and can call everything else wrong (abuse, lying, adultery, etc) but when it comes to this then they excuse it (I am referring to the Christians that spout how God is love and so because He is love He will overlook this one sin and make an exception for them….but why not an exception for the other sins?) God excuses no sins without Christ. Through Christ all sins are forgiven (no exception)…but again, remember the warning of Jesus:

YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN, GO AND SIN NO MORE.

Another argument is that God is love. YESSSSSSSS HE IS!!!!!!! But that is not all He is. It’s like saying that my mother is love (and yes she is very loving), but that is not all she is. If I do wrong (for example against my sister), in love she will forgive me, but she will tell me not to do it again for if I do there will be consequences. Lets say I am a rebellious child (which I have been in my time) and I do something against my sister again on my assumption that my mother is loving (and forget all her other qualities to my disadvantage), my mother then proceeds to punish me (grounding, taking away of privileges, kicked out of the house, etc) and she would be just in doing so for she has already warned me and laid down the law of the house. It is the same with God, only God sees all and thus is far more just than my mother.

By Christians it has been said: ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin.’ To which it has been said how can we love the sinner if the sin is who they are (homosexual etc.) This can apply to all sins not just homosexuality. Yes it is possible to love the sinner and hate the sin. I can love you even if you are wrong about something (or I perceive you to be wrong about something). A few examples: I love my sister dearly but she may have something that she constantly does to hurt me (she does not…well on occasion…but I do the same), I reproach her for the wrong she does, but I still love her, I would still give my life for her no matter how wrong she might be. The same goes for the question that was posed to me: What if one of your children comes to you and says they are homosexual? Will I stop loving them. No!!!!!! Because I do not hate the person who is homosexual. I will raise my kids, I will teach them what the Bible says is right or wrong. In the end the choice however will be theirs to make. If the come to me with that revelation I will still love them deeply, and endlessly, however I will tell them, and they will know that I do not agree with that lifestyle. I will not cut them out though. It is a decision they will have to make as to who they will serve. It is the same if one of them God-forbid was to kill someone (to me this is the ultimate sin and I think all would agree), will I hate them? No. I will not. Will I turn them in to the police so that justice can be served. It will break my heart to pieces, but I will. And I will pray for them to change their ways and turn to God and seek forgiveness from both God and those they wronged. So it is absolutely possible to hate the sin and love the sinner. It is possible for me to have a homosexual friend and hate the sin yet still love him/her.

I will leave on this note: I pray for this nation, and this world. I pray that God opens our eyes and hearts. I love you even if your lifestyle is in opposition to what the Bible says (and just because I believe this does not mean I am putting you down). If I truly believe that Jesus is the only way, truth and life, if I truly believe that sin (all sin) condemns us to hell and that only Christ can erase that sin and change us, if I believe all this and don’t tell you, how loving will I be? If I truly believe that our souls are eternal and that we will ether be forever in Heaven or forever in Hell and I do not tell you the way to heaven…how cruel and hateful would that be of me? And hell people according to the Bible is not a place where you will party with the fun people, it is a place of complete isolation, incomprehensible pain, void of completely of all love…I don’t wish that on anyone (not even my ex no matter how much I hate what he has done to me and the kids). I may say that in anger (again that is me being a sinner), if I really sit and think about it, I don’t want that for anyone. I would rather see them changed by the new Covenant of Christ and see them in Heaven.